But creating the turnover, something so few teams are able to do against the Tide, invigorated the Aggies. Quarterback Kellen Mond completed a 32-yard pass to Damion Ratley, putting his team inside the Tide 5-yard line.

On fourth down, Mond evaded three Alabama pass-rushers, rifling a throw to the end-zone’s boundary. Contorting his body and, somehow, keeping one foot inbounds, Kirk caught it, the first regular-season touchdown scored against Alabama in an SEC game since Oct. 22, 2016.

A three-and-out preceded JK Scott’s 17-yard, shanked punt. The Aggies motored, now within two touchdowns.

Playing without defensive end Da’Shawn Hand, Alabama’s defensive line neutralized the strength. Texas A&M mustered just 71 yards on 40 carries. Its inability to run forced Mond — again, just a true freshman — to place this team on his shoulders.

To do so, he needed protection, which his line did not provide. The Tide sacked him four times, none bigger than true freshman LaBryan Ray’s 14-yard takedown as the clock ticked under six minutes.

The Tide defense accomplished all this with no aid from its offense, one unable to maintain possession of the football and overrun with mental errors.

Its machine-like efficiency, one that produced 125 points in its first two Southeastern Conference games, was to slow. Keeping such a record-shattering pace was desired but, in any rational reality, unattainable.

For the first time in three weeks, the Tide offense appeared imperfect. Its first quarter was a collection of drive-killing penalties meshing with incompetent pass protection.

The Tide offense gained 84 first-quarter yards, just one through the air. Damien Harris had 75 on one play — a touchdown run that quashed Texas A&M’s early 3-0 lead.

Harris finished with 124 yards, the lone standout on an evening of offensive disarray. Hurts completed just 13 of 22 passes for 123 yards, beset by dropped passes and inaccuracy. Receiver Calvin Ridley’s minor injury midway through the third quarter did little to improve it.

Andy Pappanastos’ 44-yard field goal with two minutes remaining ostensibly removed all intrigue. The stadium emptied. Still, the Aggies fought, scoring a superficial touchdown as the clock wound under 10 seconds.

Alabama recovered the onsides kick. Hurts, back in his home state, took one knee, sending his team from the field with a familiar feeling — a win — accomplished in the most foreign of ways.

Texas A&M’s Kellen Mond (11) is hit by Alabama’s Anfernee Jennings (33) as he throws a pass during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017, in College Station, Texas. Mond’s pass was incomplete. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)